(a) The State Fire Commission shall appoint a State Fire
Marshal. The State Fire Marshal serves at the will and pleasure of
the commission and is exempt from coverage under the classified
civil service system.

(b) The State Fire Marshal shall have a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent
experience as determined by the commission, and six years of full-
time or part-time equivalent paid or volunteer experience in fire
prevention or fire safety including two years in a supervisory
capacity in fire prevention and fire safety.

(c) The State Fire Marshal, within policy established by the
State Fire Commission, shall have all responsibility for the
implementation of fire safety programs in this state designated to
minimize fire hazards and disaster and loss of life and property
from these causes. These responsibilities include, but are not
limited to, the establishment and enforcement of fire safety
practices throughout the state, preventive inspection and
correction activities, coordination of fire safety programs with
volunteer and paid fire departments and critical analysis and
evaluation of West Virginia's fire loss statistics for
determination of problems and solutions.

(d) The State Fire Marshal may employ such technical,
clerical, stenographic and other personnel and fix their
compensation and may incur such expenses as may be necessary in the
performance of the duties of his or her office within the
appropriation therefor. Employees of the Fire Marshal's office
shall be members of the state civil service system and all
appointments of the office shall be a part of the classified
service under the civil service system.

Further, any individual who is employed to conduct criminal
investigations or who may become actively involved in matters of a
criminal nature shall first be required to pass a civil service
examination testing his or her competency and proficiency in the
law of arrest, search and seizure and other criminal procedures
relating to the powers granted to the State Fire Marshal pursuant
to the provisions of this article.

(e) The State Fire Marshal and other personnel of the State
Fire Marshal's office shall be provided with appropriate office
space, furniture, equipment, supplies, stationery and printing in
the same manner as provided for other state agencies.
Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2015 Regular Session
The WV Code Online is an unofficial copy of the annotated WV Code, provided as a convenience. It has NOT been edited for publication, and is not in any way official or authoritative.